Gansevoort Pool Kinda Crappy, Public Pools "Pristine"

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 10, 2011

Modified Jul 10, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Via Hotel Ganesvoort

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 10, 2011

Modified Jul 10, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

As July's BSI (Back Sweat Index) continues to rise, it's only natural to yearn for a pool. One devoid of the crowds at the city's public pools, and festooned with eye candy and important people who somehow sit at the pool (importantly) all day. We're referring, of course, to the famed pool atop the Hotel Gansevoort, where only guests or those wealthy enough to afford the $300/day fee can dip. It's as if there's something in water there (besides music). Well according to the Post's cleanliness test of pools, there is: "coliform bacteria," indicative of "possible fecal contamination." Meanwhile the five public pools they tested had "pristine conditions."

In addition to the coliform bacteria, the Gansevoort's pool also showed a "high nitrate count and a high sodium level," which allows the Post to joke that it means "some guests aren't just leaking celebrity gossip." ZING! A biochemist analyzed samples from the Gansevoort along with The Crotona pool in the Bronx, Red Hook, Astoria, Tompkinsville in Staten Island, and Dry Dock in Manhattan (sadly, it seems they didn't test Le Bain, perhaps they couldn't get it?). All of the public pools "nearly meet drinking-water standards."

The biochemist told the paper that "pools do show bacteria from time to time, depending on how many people are in the pool and how many 'accidents' they have." So perhaps someone at the Gansevoort got upset at how long they had to wait for their vodka soda and took it out on the water quality. For a list of the best places to take a swim, check out our summer pool guide. Until then, keep your eye on the two hotties in the corner: they may have dropped their kids off at the pool.

Doodie! - watch more funny videos

Tagged

Gansevoort Hotel

meatpacking district

pools

public pools

Christopher Robbins

Twitter

Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment